Active response to natural disasters and adaption to climate change

A report released by the Office of the National Committee for Search and Rescue at a recent conference to roll out the work of information dissemination in 2017 indicated that complicated effects of climate change as well as unusual weather such as droughts and flooding have seriously affected people's lives and production.

Sea water threats Go Cong dike in Tien Giang. (Photo: Huu Chi)

The impacts of climate change in Vietnam are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity due to abnormal natural disasters that have caused huge losses of life and property. In 2016, there were 2,694 incidents, natural disasters (excluding traffic accidents), an increase of 183 cases (6.8%), leaving 736 dead (up 71), 194 missing and 755 injured, up by 155 people compared to 2015.

The above-mentioned damage was not only due to objective reasons, but also the result of low awareness and lack of skills of responding to incidents and natural calamities as well as shortcomings in direction, inspection and supervision of functional agencies, authorities in some localities.

Residents in many regions, especially the poor, women and children, are facing risks of rising temperatures, extraordinary rain and drought and depression. The risks are likely to affect the regional community in many ways, including livelihood. In addition to a reduction in agricultural productivity as well as serious effects to the processing industry, service and trade in the region, the risks will also influence the locals’ income, especially the poor, making it difficult for the region to fulfil the target of improving living conditions in line with responding to climate change.

In order to address climate change-related issues in an effective manner, involved departments and agencies should work more closely together to advise and direct the implementation of the natural disasters mitigation measures, particularly in building and strengthening infrastructure for flood prevention and control and disaster mitigation, ensuring reservoir safety, planting watershed forests, developing storm shelter and drainage systems for major cities, improving capacity building and community-based disaster management, and integrating disaster risk mitigation in new rural area construction.

In addition to climate monitoring, weather forecasts and the issue of warnings should be made priorities to effectively serve the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters and minimise the damages caused by climate change to the community.

(Source: NDO)